On graduation he returned home and soon after enlisted
in the 21st Mississippi Regiment, Confederate Army, and
served throughout the war in the Army of Northern Virginia.
Shortly after the war closed he removed to Eldon, Va. He
was admitted to the bar in April, 1871, and practiced his
profession at Chatham until 1884. At one time he was a
member of the State Executive Committee of the Democratic
party, but he afterwards identified himself with the
Republicans and in 1882 was their candidate for Congress in
the Fifth District of Virginia. In 1883 he was the
Republican candidate for the State Senate, and such strong
feeling was excited in connection with his campaign on that
occasion and the riot and massacre which occurred at
Danville, that he was compelled to take his family out of
the State. He then went to Washington, and in January,
1884, was appointed book-keeper of the Senate folding-room.
In 1884 he was a delegate to the National Republican
Convention, and again in 1888. In June, 1886, he returned
to Chatham, Va., but spent most of his time in Washington,
where he found temporary employment of various kinds, though
incapacitated by excessive deafness. In August, 1890, he
was appointed United States Consul at Colon (formerly
Aspinwall), in the Republic of Colombia, Central America.
He continued in that office until his death there, after two
weeks' illness, on July 26, 1891, in his 50th year.

He was married, on October 17, 1865, to Miss Matoaka
Whittle, at Eldon, Va., who survives him with their two
sons, — an only [daughter] having died in infancy.

Note: Research assistance was provided by William F.
Melton, Middlebury, Vermont.